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Author
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Topic: Guard Dogs
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Newmariner
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Member # 1162
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posted June 30, 2004 07:46 PM
Hello,
Im looking to get a guard dog to help protect my family. My wife doesnt work and stays home with our son. The new dog will have a big backyard, obedience school, and be allowed in the house. The dog must be loving of our 5 month old son, a cat, and another dog, a shih tzu. He/she must also be an excellent guard dog, as we have had some problems in our neighborhood. I would want an intelligent dog, a loving dog, one that will be a part of the family, and protect the family.
What kind would ya'll suggest?
Thanks.
Posts: 4 | Registered: Jun 2004
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sambucca/whiskey
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Member # 989
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posted June 30, 2004 07:51 PM
are you light hearted or firm and strict? HGave you owned any dogs?
Posts: 246 | Registered: May 2004
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Newmariner
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posted June 30, 2004 08:01 PM
I have had dogs all my life.....
I tend to walk the middle road. Im firm and strict when discipline is needed, however, when playing I like to be pretty easy going.....
Posts: 4 | Registered: Jun 2004
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DaxAriel's toy
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Member # 740
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posted June 30, 2004 09:01 PM
Rottweilers are good companions, their very presence is a deterent and they (if raised correctly) love children.
Don't train dog as a guard dog - they will naturaly protect their pack & territory.
From a good breeder - they are predicable and will accept more than one member of the family.
PS you are looking at approx. 3 years before your new addition will be ready to be a protector vs a protectee. If there is a problem in the neighborhood - a security system is cheaper and will work right away. However a 1 year old rotti is still an impressive animal much feared by the uneducated.
Posts: 748 | From: Edmonton AB Canada | Registered: Mar 2004
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sambucca/whiskey
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posted July 01, 2004 01:48 PM
Well if you can draw the line of limits for a dog then I always suggest the German shepard by 6 mths they are very protective of their pack ie. barking warnings at anything they know is not supposed to be there, with a child in the home you ideally want a 10 week old puppy minimum to guarantee it is pproperly socialized with its littermates and has bite inhibition. I also highly suggest doing a small tempermant test before selecting your puppy.
1. Roll over - should squiggle a little and then settle. If it does not it is going to be dangerously fearful. If it really puts up stong resisteance it is going to be dominant and need much discipline and pack leadership.
2. Drop your keys - Should stop look and then investigate.
3. Walk away - you want the puppy who follows you.
I didnt know of these when I got my pup and thught the fact he was so quite was great only to find out he has a very dominant personality which I would never suggest with children in the house luckily I dont have any here to worry about.
Posts: 246 | Registered: May 2004
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Newmariner
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Member # 1162
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posted July 01, 2004 05:47 PM
Thanks for the post everyone....
We are getting a Security system for the house. However, I do want some kind of warning for my property outside the home the alarm wont handle.
We do want a puppy, so that he can grow up with our son and be friendly towards him.
My wife and I thought about both rotties and german shepards....but didnt know if there were any others that were good guard dogs. How much do either dog shed? We would also want a female so that she cant hike her leg on all the furniture like males:)
Posts: 4 | Registered: Jun 2004
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sambucca/whiskey
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posted July 01, 2004 06:27 PM
Well if trained and neutered a male wont hike his leg but remember you will have to deal with a female in heat. Purebred german shepards shed a great deal(why i love my mix) not sure about ritties but dobes are smooth coat just hard to find a sound breeder my dad went from canada to the us to get his and what a doll he is.
Posts: 246 | Registered: May 2004
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DaxAriel's toy
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posted July 01, 2004 06:28 PM
I have owned (own) both rottis and shepards and both shed. The shepard had more seasonal shedding but the rottis hair is shorter & easier to pick up.
Rotti's bark a lot less than shepards
Rotti's are calmer and more willing to "lie around" when not working.
Posts: 748 | From: Edmonton AB Canada | Registered: Mar 2004
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ellierat
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posted July 01, 2004 11:19 PM
Would you believe Ellie my black labrador is quite a good guard dog too. She has put off the electricity reader, any stranger actually that drives in the property, I think it is because she is black, but the hackles go up on her back, and the teeth being very white do tend to send a ripple up some peoples spines. If she is in the car and anybody comes up to it we have commented many times that noone would try to break into it. Once she has been told all is ok she settles down, wagging her tail. And most of all, as everyone knows on the forum she is just my best and favourite dog, a great family all rounder.
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I love my labs.
Posts: 880 | From: australia | Registered: Feb 2004
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